VOIP security

Security issues are one of the biggest priorities in implementing a virtual PBX. Find out how to secure VOIP and enjoy full call quality without fear of data interception, bugs, viruses or eavesdropping.

VOIP technology is based on making calls over IP protocols in the cloud, without the use of terrestrial transmitters. It’s a growing trend in telecommunications, but companies introducing VOIP must remember to properly secure their VOIP networks.

What are the risks associated with VOIP?

1. Vishing, or VoIP Phishing. It involves a caller impersonating an institution (e.g., a bank) or a person (an IT administrator) in an attempt to extract confidential information.
2. Personality or service theft. Theft of service is made possible by the lack of VOIP encryption, so user credentials are easily obtained. Identity theft is the extraction of access credentials, often through eavesdropping. The hacker then has access to logins, passwords, phone numbers and other sensitive data.
3. Malware. The risk is associated with the use of softphones, which is phone software that allows you to make calls and receive calls. The software is vulnerable to viruses.
4. Denial of Service (DoS) attacks, which is an attack on VOIP in order to cause service blocking.
5. SPAM. Littering voicemail with spam, which also means increasing disk space. The spam may contain viruses.
6. Call tempering. Intentionally disrupting a call in progress, such as in the form of called crackles, noises, etc.
7. Man-in-the-middle attacks. The attacker is between two users and can intercept information by eavesdropping, for example. This is done by intercepting SIP signaling communications.
8. Snooping. When VOIP calls are sent over the public Internet network, they are vulnerable to eavesdropping or access by a hacker, who can also gain insight into the company’s packet(sniffer) and start recording the calls.
9. Software vulnerabilities. It is worth noting whether there are any holes in the VOIP software through which an attacker can sneak in.

How to ensure VOIP security?

1. Encryption of calls and signal communications (e.g., SIP) to prevent interception of calls.
2. Startup TLS(Transport Level Security) protocol, which encrypts the VOIP connection. TLS ensures confidentiality, data transmission integrity and server authentication. In addition, it’s worth running SRTP(Secure Real Time Protocol), which is designed to encrypt communications between end devices.
3. Securing and configuring the VOIP gateway so that it can be accessed by authorized users and not by hackers.
4. Enable aStateful Package Inspection (SPI) firewall, which is one that monitors the status of all connections and only allows those that are secure.
5. Network monitoring. To ensure full VOIP security, you need to provide your network with constant monitoring. This consists of:
6. Managing the attack-enhanced operating system and VOIP applications
7. Monitoring of suspicious events
8. Installation of security patches
9. Using only the part of the operating system that is necessary for proper and fast functioning (the idea is to exclude the possibility of attack).
10. Removal of softphone software.
11. Access to a group of authorized devices only.

VOIP services at ITH.EU

Our offerings include VOIP, fiber Internet, as well as hosting, cloud computing, network security and telephony. We are a provider of telecommunications services for startups, large and small enterprises and all kinds of public institutions. We encourage you to use the services of our specialists.